Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



W.O.DODGE- Breech Loading Fire Arm.

No. 113,408. Patented April 4, 1871.

MPErEns, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER,'WASHINGTON. D C.

timid $tairr aind can.

with considerable force.

WILLIAM G. DODGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Letters Patent No. 113,408, dated April 4, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of. the same:

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. DODGE, of Wash ington, in the county of 'Washington and District of Columbia, have invented. certain Improvements in thus prevented from opening, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure l is a side elevation of the breech portion of a gun containing my improvement, a portion of the frame being broken away to more clea-rlyillustraiie the improvement.

Figures 2 and 3 represent the same idea in a modified form.

This invention is intended for that class of guns which has a breech-block pivoted at the rear end of the barrel, and which is turned backward and downward to open the breech, and'in which the breech-f piece is held in place, when the-gun is fired, by a swinging shoulder pivoted to the frame in rear of the breech piece. In this classof guns, as generally made,

. the breech is not locked closed until the hammer swings forward in the act of firing the gun; and, consequently,,it frequently happens that serious accidents occur by-the explosion of the cartridge in closing the breech, the latter being heavy, and forced home by a spring or lever, which causes it to strike the cartridge In such cases, if an explo sion occurs, the breech-block is thrown back, it being entirely unlocked, and the charge with the cartridgeshell is forced out at the rear end of the barrel. To prevent the possibility of such an occurrence I provide a lever or brace, G, and pivot it to the breechblock B, as represented in fig. 1, this brace Ohaving an arm extending forward along one side of the breechblock 13, and terminating in a thumb-piece, f, as represented, the general construction being similar to that described in the patent dated March 14,1871, and issued to me.

In this case, however,the rear end of the braceO,

. instead of-locking against cheeks on the frame G, is

arranged to swing up in front of the shoulder o of the hammer D, as represented in fig. 1. p

The under rear corner of the brace O is cut away on a curve concentric with the axis of the hammer, or

so as to coincide withthe rear curved face i of the breech-b1ock B, in order to permit the shoulder o to pass down under it and lock against the solid face I when the gun is'fired.

The balance of the rear end or face of the brace O is so shaped as to permit it to -swing up in front of the shoulder 0, as represented in fig. 1, a spring of any suitable kind being arranged to throw or hold the rear end of the brace .0 up in front of the shoulder owhen the breech is closed.

When thus arranged it will be seen that if an explosion were to occur from any cause the breech-block, instead of being blown open, would be simply moved far enough to bring the rearend of the brace 0 against the front edge of the shoulder o, and thereby lock it firmly in place, the shoulder 0 being itself locked firmly .in position, having the-back side of the hammer bear against the top of the frame, as shown in fig. 1.

In order to prevent the brace G from slippiug'ofi the shoulder o. I out a small groove or notch, 0, across its rear face transversely in line with the edge of the shoulder 0, as represented in fig. 1; or the same result may be accomplished by cutting off the extreme front point of the shoulder a .on a line with the rear flat end of the brace C and rongh'ening the faces of each, so that, as the breech-block is forced back, with the rear end of the brace elevated, the flat faces of the end of the braceand of the point of the shoulder will meet and rest fairly one upon the other; but'this I do not consider as safe or as certain as to use the notch above described. 7

It is obvious that the locking brace C may be variously modified in its form and in its mode of attachment to the breech-block without departing from the spirit of my inventionfthe only requisites being that it shall be so formed and attache'd'as to resist the force of the explosion, and stand in proper position to lock on the shoulder when forced back, and be capable-of being forced or swung down against the breech-block, to permit the latter with the brace to swing down in front of the hammer orshoulder to open the breech.

1o figs. 2 and 3 I have represented the brace in a modified form. It is there shown as fitting in a recess out in one side of the face I of the breech-block, instead of extending entirely across the face Z, as in fig.- 1. Thehrace O in this case will be pivoted and arranged to swing in the same manner as in fig. 1, so as to lock against the shoulder in the same way, and

it will be made of sufiicientthiokncss to securely l'ock' By this method it will be the breech-block in place. seen that the face I for one-half or more of its width is left unbroken, and that, therefore, the shoulder o,

portion of theface l is cut away to make room for the rear end of the brace. This modified form of brace is simpler and therefore cheaper to construct, and, if properly. made, may be made to answer the desired, purpose fully.

In order to prevent the possibility of the rear end of the brace G beingforced up as it comes in contact with the edge of the shoulder 0 when forced back 'against it, the brace 0 may be formed with a hooked arm, 0, as represented in dottedlines in fi 2, this. arm engaging in a corresponding recess formed for it in the block B, by which means it is prevented from rising beyond a certain point.

The operation and manipulation of the arm being the same as that described in the patent referred to, need not be further described.

equivalent, with the swinging shoulder 0, substantially as described, whereby the breech-block is prevented from being blown open by an accidental or premature explosion, asset forth.

WILLIAM G. DODGE.

Witnesses:

PHIL. T. DODGE, JOSEPH G. PARKINSON. 

